Indianapolis, IN
Nicole Rotondo of NJ on winning Ericsson team
It was a Memorial Day weekend to keep in mind within the Rotondo dwelling in Middletown, the joyous celebration constructing Sunday afternoon earlier than erupting because the checkered flag waved on the large display screen.
It coincided with Nicole Rotondo tossing her headset within the air from a timing stand at Indianapolis Motor Speedway as driver Marcus Ericsson’s automotive, powered by the Honda engine overseen by Rotondo, a 28-year-old trackside race engineer, crossed the bricks on the start-finish line to win the Indianapolis 500.
“I’m undecided I used to be even respiration at that time,” stated Rotondo.
Rotondo’s a pioneer, among the many first feminine trackside engineers ever to serve in that function with an Indy 500-winning group, the newest accomplishment in a journey the started in Monmouth County.
“My husband (Wealthy) has all the time been within the mechanical discipline,” stated Nicole’s mother, Stacy. “She was all the time proper there. “Dad, how does that work and the way does this work?” She has all the time been our curiosity child.”
That curiosity was the inspiration for what has been a fast rise within the sport.
“I all the time had an curiosity in vehicles and engines,” she stated. “My dad is a mechanic by commerce, so we grew up engaged on all types of engines. Boats, vehicles, tractors he picked up on the facet of the highway. A bit of little bit of every little thing. However I’ve all the time been curious about vehicles and racing and stuff like that.”
Now Rotondo, a mechanical engineer by commerce, is on a motorsports profession path she’s envisioned for the previous decade.
“It’s been like a dream come true,” she stated.
Stars align
It’s known as “the Biggest Spectacle in Racing” for a purpose, and the strain constructed all through the afternoon as Rotondo monitored the efficiency of the motor in Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 automotive, which had an almost three-second lead because the laps had been winding down.
Then NASCAR legend Jimmie Johnson, in his first season racing Indy vehicles, wrecked with six laps to go, leading to a pink flag that introduced the motion to a standstill.
“It turns into very, very hectic,” Rotondo stated. “We had a reasonably stable hole and when that pink flag hits it’s a completely totally different ballgame and all people could be very wired. When the engines run that scorching after which they sit in pit lane that lengthy you’ll be able to have bother together with your engine overheating, your electronics overheating. You simply hope the automotive fires again up once more every little thing is operating proper. And now you’re going to have somebody proper in your bumper and also you hope we get this man on the restart.”
Ericsson finally held off driver Pato O’Ward in what turned out to be a two-lap showdown to win the 106th renewal.
It wasn’t preordained that Rotondo could be on this place. She truly studied marine biology in highschool on the Marine Academy of Science and Know-how in Highlands.
“I spotted that was not likely my calling,” she stated. “I used to be like, “you already know what I actually like? Engaged on vehicles with my dad. I feel I wish to be a mechanic.” And he was having completely none of that. He stated you’re going to get a level, and mechanical engineering was the subsequent step.”
So Rotondo selected Rochester Institute of Know-how, which provided an automotive possibility that included courses coping with excessive efficiency autos, in addition to an SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) race group she turned concerned with.
Whereas Rotondo joined Nissan’s physique design group in Detroit after commencement, she was all the time in search of a path into motorsports. So she entered a program known as the Infiniti Engineering Academy, a contest the place engineers from totally different international locations compete for a spot working with Infiniti in Europe and with the Renault Formulation One racing group.
“I made it to the finals however obtained beat out, and the woman that beat me out was so deserving,” Rotondo stated. “We’re nonetheless pals and she or he truly got here out to rejoice with us after the five hundred.
“However I used to be sitting on the airport completely defeated on my means dwelling from that program, and the commercial for this job popped up in an alert I had arrange. It was every little thing that I used to be in search of. They had been in search of folks with SAE expertise and energy prepare expertise and individuals who needed to be trackside. The celebs aligned I assume.”
She joined Honda Efficiency Growth as an assistant trackside race engineer in 2019.
“An unimaginable place to be in”
By Rotondo’s personal admission, the entire Indy 500 scene “is rather a lot to course of,” from the large crowd to the bands and flyover by the U.S. Air Power Thunderbirds. This 12 months the hoopla concluded with Ericsson consuming milk in Victory Lane, a longstanding custom for the winner.
Now, her plans for any downtime at her dwelling in Detroit embrace engaged on an previous Honda bike she’s rebuilding. As a result of despite the fact that most of her work these days is completed on a laptop computer, she nonetheless likes to get her arms soiled.
“The engine I work on now’s undoubtedly a category above something I ever labored on rising up,” she stated. “But it surely actually all comes all the way down to the identical fundamentals. Engines are simply air and gas mixtures and the timing of getting that combination. So whether or not you’re doing it mechanically with a wrench or altering these ratios with a laptop computer, it’s the identical primary concept.
”My job has an enormous quantity of duty, however I’ve a large amount of help from Honda. I’m the one on the timing stand who will get to make the decision when it comes all the way down to the engine, which could be a little daunting. But it surely’s additionally an unimaginable place to be in.”
After ending sixth within the standings final season, the No. 8 automotive tops the factors leaders after six races. And to be a part of a year-end championship group could be one other step in what has already been a groundbreaking profession for Rotondo.
Indianapolis, IN
The Zone Extra | Jan. 9, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — High school basketball season is in full swing in Indiana.
This week on “The Zone Extra,” we highlight Lawrence North boys basketball. The Wildcats have won eight straight games since losing their season opener and are ranked #2 in 4A. Lawrence North boys basketball head coach Chris Griffin joins the show for coaches corner.
The athlete of the week is Roncalli girls wrestling’s Claire May.
Plus, hear from IHSAA commissioner Paul Neidig on this week’s edition of Ask The Commissioner.
Also, former Heritage Christian star and current Purdue guard Myles Colvin is featured on the on campus segment.
All of that and more from central Indiana high school sports can be found in the video above.
For more ‘The Zone’ coverage, download the new ‘All Indiana Sports‘ app.
Indianapolis, IN
More snow is on the way in Indiana. What age should I stop shoveling? Is it illegal if I don’t?
From Carmel to Wanamaker, see the sights after the first storm of 2025
Here’s what our team saw in different cities around the area after the first storm of 2025
Another 2-4 inches of snow are expected to arrive in Central Indiana on Friday.
If you are headed out to shovel a path out of your home after the heavy snowfall, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling. Shovelers should seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack, the American Heart Association says.
Research shows that many people may face an increased risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after shoveling heavy snow.
“Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and you’re basically doing it in a freezer,” says Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist who is president of the American Heart Association board of directors in Indianapolis. “Those conditions can very quickly lead to stress on the heart.”
Here’s everything you need to know about snow removal in Indianapolis.
Shoveling heavy snow (4 or more inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service) is a strenuous activity.
According to the American Heart Association, adults over the age of 45 should be cautious when shoveling snow as they may be at higher risk for a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest as a result of shoveling.
If someone has heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, they are at a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest as a result of shoveling snow.
Depending on where you live, snow removal might be required by your local government — and it may cost you if you don’t.
You may face fines if your local city ordinance mandates they should be promptly shoveled, and Indianapolis does have such an ordinance. Also if someone is injured after walking on a walkway that you should have shoveled, you could be held responsible.
For more information on when snow should be shoveled and how much the fines are, read the article below.
If you decide to hire someone to shovel your driveway, how much can that cost?
According to Lawn Love, the price of snow removal can vary depending on how large of a driveway, how many walkways and how much snow there is to remove.
In general, Lawn Love says the typical cost per visit for snow removal from a driveway can range $45 to $160. Most companies offering snow removal typically charge anywhere from $25 to $75 an hour. The prices could also vary if you add salt application.
If you’re going to shovel your own snow, the American Heart Association suggests these tips to make sure you are doing so safely:
- Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart. Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.
- Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.
- Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.
- Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1
- Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.
- Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.
- Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.
The American Heart Association urges people to learn the signs of a heart attack so they can recognize the signs and to call 9-1-1 immediately if they experience any of those signs.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense like they are shown in movies and TV shows. This is what the American Heart Association calls a “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening.
In reality, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help.
Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
- Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
Calling 9-1-1 is almost always the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment. Emergency medical services (EMS) staff can begin treatment when they arrive — up to an hour sooner than if someone gets to the hospital by car. EMS staff is also trained to revive someone whose heart has stopped. Patients with chest pain who arrive by ambulance usually receive faster treatment at the hospital, too. It is best to call EMS for rapid transport to the emergency room. If you can’t access EMS, have someone drive you to the hospital right away.
“I can’t stress enough the urgency of getting proper treatment for a heart attack,” Dr. Gill says. “Don’t die of doubt. If you’re experiencing symptoms or something just doesn’t feel right, go get it checked out. Hospitals offer life-saving treatment.”
Jade Jackson and Monahil Ahmad contributed to this report.
Katie Wiseman is a trending news reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @itskatiewiseman or Bluesky @katiewiseman
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis City Market redevelopment to showcase historic catacombs
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The redevelopment of the City Market campus in downtown Indianapolis will start on the west side of the block this year, leaders say.
One of the most notable parts will be to take the historic catacombs and expose them for people to see from the street. The West Plaza will be sunken in to expose the catacombs, all while providing recreational green space.
Megan Vukusich, the director of the Department of Metropolitan Development, said Wednesday during a news conference, “We’re working with Indiana Landmarks, which really is helping provide that technical expertise from a historic preservation standpoint, but we are going to be daylighting the catacombs that sit below the West Plaza today, still retaining a portion of them.”
The City Market, located at 222 E. Market St. just south of the City-County Building, was closed March 1. Both the east and west wings of the building will be demolished as a part of this year’s project. They are not historic buildings, although the center Market House is.
Bill Taft, the senior vice president for economic development at the Local Initiatives Support Corp. in Indianapolis, said Thursday, “We were really happy to see this get used for 13 years or at least 12 years as a place where the community came together, and it has become a place that has a lot of great memories for me, and I am a little sad to see it going.”
The redevelopment of West Plaza will be part of the first phase of the project, which will also see a vacant office space known as the Gold Building transformed into 354 apartment units. About 10% of those apartments will be available as affordable housing. The cost will be $185 million, according to a Department of Metropolitan Development news release issued Thursday.
Vukusich said, “We’re excited to bring that building back online as residential units which addresses the need for housing in our community.”
Leaders says the West Plaza green space will serve as an amenity for the community and the people in the new apartments living directly above this area.
Redevelopment of the Market House will start in Phase Two.
A date to start redevelopment of the east side of the block has not yet been determined.
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